Moving to Austin What areas do I need to stay away from when searching for a home for me and my family?|184067

I have 2 daughters. I need it to be affordable but I don_t want to live on the wrong side of the tracks! I_ll be working in Austin but don_t mind a commute.

While Northeast, East and Southeast Austin do have some hidden gems, the overwhelming majority of these neighborhoods are bad (high rates of poverty, homelessness, crime, pollution, etc.). North, Northwest, and Central Austin neighborhoods are typically much nicer than those mentioned above, but the crime rates in these areas are some of the highest in the city. South and Southwest Austin are two of the safest options in town.

If you are raising a family and are in your mid 20s-early 30s, then I would recommend that you check out the southwest side of town. More specifically, you should check into the neighborhoods off of Stassney and Emerald Wood, Brodie and Alexandria (Maple Run), Westgate and William Cannon. You will not only be able to find some great houses in good, safe neighborhoods but also invest in some property that will continue to increase in value with the growth of the surrounding areas. Additionally, South Austin is old Austin, so there is more of a culture and community vibe.

If you are interested in schools, Austin ISD has a great transfer policy. There are plenty of good schools in the district to choose from, so your educational options won_t be limited by the area in which you choose to reside.

I hope this helps; good luck on your move!

If you have not visited Austin before, there is a very reputable _a href=_http://www.carvajalgroup�� website _/a_ that has a list of real estate options (with pictures included) for you to choose from. You can choose the location, price range, etc. with your preferences.

Stay as far away from Mexico as you can. As for Texas, it_s too late to warn you about that.

In Austin, the wrong side of the tracks is east of Interstate 35.

I need to catch a flight tomorrow morning early. How can I get to the airport cheaply and in time?|164960

I don_t have a car and can_t find anyone to drive me. The taxi wants $200. I am going from Mount Pocono, PA to Philadelphia, PA which is about a 2 hour drive.

I see there are several taxi and limo services in your town. did you call all of them? Can_t hurt. Good luck.

well, in your present situation, you grin and bare the cost!

For this trip bite the bullet and pay. When you get back, invest in a car. I prefer the shuttle but it sounds like you don_t have that option.

shoulda made these plans earlier. good luck.

What is the best place in las vagas to stay for a 1st time vistor?|175179

Not to expensive but not to cheap. it_ s for my rest and relaxation leave from Iraq.

The _BEST_ place is on Boulder Highway 7 miles off te strip.our Choices are Sams Town,Boulder Station,or Arizona Charlies.Excellent prices,extemely clean rooms,friendly safe atmosphere in and out of Casinos.Quiet enough to relax in or out of your room,no heavy congestion _human traffic_ or _vehicles_.We hve stayed there many times to relax and enjoy,and when we wanted nose and a different excitement,Vegas Strip only 7 miles away.

First of all, let me say thank you for serving our country! That being said, stay somewhere on the strip where you can be near everything, but stay in one of the more grand hotels that will allow you to get the R_R you want, such as the Venetian, the Wynn, or the Bellagio.

Most of the Casino/Hotels are affordable and very comfortable.

MGM or New York

Rest and Relaxtion and Vegas? I think you got the wrong town for that. But one thing about Vegas is that you can do almost whatever you want. Most resort hotels are big enough that you can feel like you are in your own world. I would avoid the center strip hotels and maybe check out something off strip like The Orleans, Tuscany, or Something like the Marriott. These hotels are less likely to be crowded, especially in areas like the pool.

For R _ R, you are apparently seeking a twenty-four hour twon. There are many nice motels on the outskirts that are quiet. There even casinos available other than those on the Strip... Motel 8_s and Motel 6_s are generally a good deal pricewise and not really far from any action. Try hotels.com for discount rates. Travelocity and other such sites offer package deals that include hotels. Don_t take more money out with you than you can comfortably afford to lose, if you gamble and don_t rent a car if you are going to drink.

MGM
nice hotel
stay inside your hotel if u wanna R_R

What do people represent with The United States of America?|147678

When I think of different country��s I have pictures in my mind of things that represent them. What do people who don��t live in the USA represent with America?

I live in Washington State USA. I live in a small farming town with surrounding mountains and forests.

that everyone here is fat!! and totally retarded...!

I just come back from vacation in Europe and that_s what most ppl are thinking we are!!

it really bothered me alot..because I_m an American and I_m not fat nor dumb!!

WE are gods gifts to the planet

300 million people and no 2 are the same!

:-)

you have Hollywood films and such but honestly the main things i think i would have to say are very right wing politics racism and a lot of violence..... I_m sure its not like that as the Americans i know are all great people its just the image we get from media and such here in the UK...

I think of a red barn next to a farmhouse, an american flag, a porch, good people, baseball, comfort, friendliness and strip malls. ha.

the flag,and blonde busty women,burgers and fries,

A country I wanna visit.

a flag?

I live in a town east of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I think of America as a wonderful nation filled with oppurtunities and amazing citizens. A nation with such a diverse array of landscapes and wildlife. But I also see it as a nation that has, for quite some time I might add, a blanket over its citizens and a nation full of naive (but wonderful) people.

business

paris hilton and britney spears

I do not know

Fat people, who over endulge. And people that see no further than the good old U.S.A.

Wealth, power, christianity, cowboys.
doesn_t mean they all apply...

Hamburgers, guns,Stetsons,celebrities,fat people, lovely white straight teeth!

Freedom,,,,,,of religion. we have Unions out there. Freedom is the word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jr ewing

war, obesity, arrogance, plastic-surgery, bible-belters.

Sadly Americans don_t always do themselves any favours They often show themselves in the media to be small minded and ignorant of anything outside America.
Though I am sure the media slants everthing to make it more exciting.
I am sure though that most are just like everyone they want to build a home look after their family and get through life without hurting anyone.

george bush, terrorists, the flag, war, dead soldiers

George Bush, think that says it all ;-)

Super size big mac, george bush, beaches, obesity, war

but also long wide open roads where you can drive forever in a big car

well that depends where u live...i think of America as a country that has developed and is really rich...and the usual George Bush...oh and money....yeah

truthfully?
alot of stupid people.

if a country can vote Bush as they president something is definatly wrong with the people who voted for him .

i don_t know

What is the average temperature in Southeast Alaska in June?|170586

We are going on a cruise to Alaska in mid June and were wondering what the temperature will be and what season it will be, We_ll be going to the Skagway area.

It will be in the low 50_s in the day time and 30_s at night.

i have no clue:(
sorry
i would have to say 45 or well i dont know

Is there shuttle transportation from Orlando Universal resorts hotels?|168203

I am planning to stay at the Royal Pacific and am not renting a car. I know that there is transportation to the amusement parks and city walk, but are there are shuttle buses that would take you other places such as outlet malls, etc?

yes

They do not have transportation to certain parks. Not for Disney but they do have for seaworld or wet n wild. They might have buses that may take you to other places but other than that you might have to take a taxi. If you go to wet n wild you can walk to outlet malls they are like 10 20 minutes walk down the road and you will find a zillion stores. Or if not if you go to wet n wild right outside they have like bus stops for buses/trollies that go down i-drive, sand lake road, and such passes by every 15 30 minutes depens where you are going.

dad is wrong! lol always wanted to say that. cause they dont. you use a taxi to get to other place Universal does not have any other transportation to anywhere else.

I don_t think so. However, it is close enough that you can hop on the Lynx bus or I-Drive trolley that will take you to to the outlet malls, restaurants etc!

Has anyone here driven by land up through the interior of Alaska all the way to Prudhoe Bay?|186632

I have a friend who is planning this trip with his four kids...seems like an amazing and insane adventure.

Is it possible? Inadvisable? It will be in June and July.

Any particular dangers they should be aware of? Pardon my naivete, but will it be very cold at night? They are planning on traveling with a tent trailor. Will the polar bears get them? Should he carry a gun? His children are 6, 7, 9 and 10.

I will pass any of your advice along.

I live here in the Interior, North Pole which is just south of Fairbanks. You can drive to Prudoe Bay on a road called the Haul Road. Consists of Dalton and Elliot Highway.

it is mostly gravel and lots of trucks on it. I wouldn_t worry to much about the polar bears it is the wolves and Grisly Bears to be on the look out for. It is a good bet to carry a gun when ever you go camping in Alaska.

They might also want to invest in critter alarms they can put around their tent at night to scare off the critters. Remember at the time of year they are coming it is day light all the time.

The haul road is about 450 miles long to Purdue bay.

I have a blog I have been writing once a week since November of last year. You might find it interesting since it discusses living in the Interior of Alaska.

http://surpriseinalaska.blogspot.com/

Your friend should buy a book called the Milepost. If your friend is in Fairbanks, it can be had for a good price at Gullivers Books on College Road. Or buy it from Amazon.
Here_s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Milepost-2009-Alas��

It tells about the Alaska Highway and all the roads in the state. It lists the campgrounds and has lots of advice, and numbers to call for road reports, etc.
One thing he will find out is that you cannot drive all the way to the Arctic Ocean, because the oil fields are closed to public traffic.
The road north of Fairbanks is rough and people get flat tires or holes in their windshields from rocks thrown by passing trucks. Your friend will want to carry more than one spare tire, and the big ones, not the tiny ones that sometimes come with cars. He will want to make sure that the trailer and hitch are stout enough to handle the rough road. The Dalton Highway is primarily a truck route for equipment going to the oil fields. Big tractor-trailer rigs and truck trains are on the road and collisions would be tragic.
The weather will be fine in June and July. You can go to www. wunderground.com to check on what the weather was like at places like Coldfoot and Deadhorse and Prudhoe last year. It will be chilly in the mountains.
There will be mosquitoes. You can count on it. There may be bears.
Usually not polar bears, but with global climate change I can_t say that there won_t be. A polar bear left the arctic last year and ended up all the way south to the Yukon River.
I think it_s great that your friend is planning an adventure with his kids. Just get all the facts first, to make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into, so you can be prepared and have fun. If it looks like the situation is not what you wanted it to be, there are some other really fun drives, such as going just as far as Coldfoot or the Yukon River, or driving down to the ocean at Homer and Seward, or camping in Denali National Park, or riding the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Another great resource are the Public Lands Information Centers. There is one in Anchorage and the one in Fairbanks is at the Morris Thompson Center. They can tell you about the camping facilities on public lands such as National Parks, etc. and they have great visitor programs.